Catharsis : Aristotle believed that tragedy should evoke pity and fear that leads to catharsis, emotional cleansing the audience experiences. "King Lear " elicits compassion for characters facing misfortune with their downfall acting as a release of bottled emotions for its audience .
Plot and Reversal: King Lear follows aristotle's emphasis on an intricate plot . Lear's decisions set an unfortunate set of events into motion culminating in a complex web of family betrayal , madness tragedy that eventually lead to his redemption
Hubris (HAMARTIA): Lears fatal flaw or hamartia , lies his prideful quest for flattery and absolute power over his three daughters . Shakespeare establishes Lears arrogance in the opening act , setting the tragic arc into motion .